Mazmur 62:3

62:3 How long will you threaten ¹  a man?

All of you are murderers, ² 

as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence. ³ 

Mazmur 109:16

109:16 For he never bothered to show kindness; ⁴ 

he harassed the oppressed and needy,

and killed the disheartened. ⁵ 

Mazmur 142:3

142:3 Even when my strength leaves me, ⁶ 

you watch my footsteps. ⁷ 

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

[62:3]  ¹ tn The verb form is plural; the psalmist addresses his enemies. The verb הוּת occurs only here in the OT. An Arabic cognate means “shout at.”

[62:3]  ² tn The Hebrew text has a Pual (passive) form, but the verb form should be vocalized as a Piel (active) form. See BDB 953-54 s.v. רָצַח.

[62:3]  ³ tn Heb “like a bent wall and a broken fence.” The point of the comparison is not entirely clear. Perhaps the enemies are depicted as dangerous, like a leaning wall or broken fence that is in danger of falling on someone (see C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms [ICC], 2:69).

[109:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “he did not remember to do loyal love.”

[109:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he chased an oppressed and needy man, and one timid of heart to put [him] to death.”

[142:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”

[142:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “you know my path.”